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DOUG ROGERS

Shaping for over 40 years, Doug Rogers has worked on creating performance surfboards for himself and some of the best in the industry.

20 QUESTIONS WITH DOUG ROGERS

1.

Years in the job?

Shaped first board 44 years ago, shaped full time for 25 years, now part time.

2.

How many boards have you made in that time?

Around 15,000, Still learning!

3.

What idea rises above all others when you re shaping / designing a board?

Water flowing along the bottom, around the rails, gripping when it should, releasing at the right time, making sure they all connect without loosing speed.

4.

What s the golden rule of shaping (for you)?

Balanced outline with profile; nothing extreme, allowing all elements of the design to blend together and achieve the designs outcome..speed and maneuverability.

5.

Describe your signature model at the moment?

Any board with quad fin set up; designing and making different fins is exciting, quads have the most fins, even more fun.

6.

What s your local break?

The reefs at Bells and Winkipop

7.

What s your inspiration for making the boards you make?

Love shaping a new board then surfing it.

8.

Have you ever thought about doing something else?

I’ve always been involved in other aspects of the surf industry, even when shaping full time. Shaping surfboards is the ultimate art form to me, its even better now that I can take my time and experiment.

Yes, I have had a lot of boards that I really love, that end up in my collection, I’ll never sell them. But a few years ago some mongrel broke into my shed and helped themselves to a couple of real gems. Irreplaceable. I still get the shits when I think about it, the bastards.

16.

How do you feel about the shift to Asian manufacturing by the larger players in the surfboard industry?

Which part of the industry? The surf industry has to be as fluid as the ocean we play in. Major players support so much more than the people who directly work for them and the owners / shareholders. They advertise in magazines, pay for surf videos, sponsor grommets, pay for the whole pro circuit. That takes a lot of money to run; that means they must be profitable as well. That also means that there is little niches created that can be filled by smaller operators.As far as surfboards go there will always be involved surfers who want to order a custom handshaped surfboard just as there will be others who want to buy on price or buy a particular brand / designers boards, no matter where it is made.
Apparel and wetsuits have been sourced offshore for decades; chemicals for surfboards are imported. Don’t worry about that, forget it and go to the beach.The waves really don’t care were the equipment comes from..have fun.

17.

Where would you like to be in 10 years?

Can’t see much changing.

18.

How do you feel about the professional surfing world tour?

When the waves are great, the spectacle of pro surfers ripping is a phenomenon. They are such great athletes; both men and women. The guys on tour now are great watermen. They will all take on Bells , J bay, Pipeline, Wiamea and rip.
When the waves are junk it is questionable whether it is even worth looking at. Yawn.

19.

What time do you go to bed?

When I’m tired.

20.

And what time do you get up?

About an hour before sunrise, earlier if I know that the surf is going to be good, love to start preparing, playing with boards, fins etc.

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Established in 1993, Zak shaped his first surfboard at 13 in a lean-to down the side of his parent’s house in Viewbank. He opened his first store in Thornbury in 1999 and is now located at 307 Victoria Rd Thornbury, on the corner of Raleigh St. MORE...